Apparatus for rolling flanges on tubes



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 20, 1944 i--- m: I... @2

m MA M N EH W W w ol H ,M L .m R T 0Q W A Q: mo"

May 10, 1949. E. F. LOHMANN APPARATUS FOR ROLLING FLANGES ON TUBES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 20, 1944 N M T N M m H v m OE m m M H'IJ F R E m (\3 8/. mw/\ L T wfl m A m E 3. MW 539 -V E mm m x w my Q vm. o O 0 m 09 v2 o2 3 gm m9 3 mm 2 mm 2 m9 m3 2., 0 mm F E w: 03 m! C: Q?

May 10, 1949. E. F. LOHMANN APPARATUS FOR ROLLING FLANGES ON TUBES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 20, 1944 INVENTOR.

EARLE F. LOHMANN ATTORNEY y 9 E. F. LOHMANN 2,469,775

APPARATUS FOR ROLLING FLANGES ON TUBES Filed July 20, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

EARLE F. LOHMANN ATTORNEY Patented May 10, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR ROLLING FLANGES ON TUBES Earle F. Lohmann, Overland, Mo., assignor to Curtiss-Wrlght Corporation, a corporation oi.

Delaware Application July 20, 1944, Serial No. 545,838

4 Claims. (Cl. 153-81) to a plastic condition is generally well known as evidenced by the highly developed art of forging solid bodies or bodies having thick wall sections. The hot or cold working of metals by the application of rotary or spinning methods is also an old and highly. developed art and is especially applicable to the group of relatively ductile metals such as copper, aluminum, silver, gold, etc. For the group of relatively less ductile metals such as iron, steel, alloys oi steel, etc., the prior forming methods in themselves are entirely inadequate particularly when applied to relatively thin walled metallic bodies. I have discovered that by a combination of spinning and pressforging it is possible to work the tubular metallic bodies of the less ductile group into desired forms and shapes. My method broadly consists in ele vating the temperature of the body to be formed until it has attained a plastic state and then to follow this step immediately by a series of pressforging operations. It is also my intention to rotate or spin the body during the heating and forming steps so that the metal shall be evenly worked thereby producing uniform results with a high standard of perfection.

I am able to accomplish these results with the apparatus hereinafter to be described but which broadly consists of means for holding and spinning the tubular body to be formed and means consisting of a group of associated and freely rotatable backing and formin rolls. The backin rolls provide the means for supporting the body during the forming stages and for controlling the extent of body deformation. A series of cooperating forming rolls then are moved into the body and accomplish the press-forging steps so that the body may be made to conform to any desired shape.

The principles of my discovery have many applications but for present purposes of discussion as to its use and advantages thefollowing description of the method and apparatus shall be specific to the treatment of tubular metallic bodies whereby a flange formation results. The flanged tubes formed according to this invention are much superior to the more common welded on or riveted built-up flanged constructions for the reason that the flange is an integral and homogeneous part of the parent body metal.

One object of the present method is the attainment of uniform results in the manufacture of tubular flanged bodies with consequent economy and high productivity.

It is also an object to provide a method for Working tubular or hollow bodies by a combination spinning and press-forging operation once the body mass has been reduced to a plastic condition whereby the finished article possesses the most desirable physical characteristics and homogeneous structure throughout,

An object is to provide apparatus which shall carry into effect the method of spin-forgin of tubular metallic bodies when said bodies have been first reduced to a plastic condition, the ap-' paratus including means for rotating the tubular body together with suitable forming agencies which cooperatively act upon the body and force it into a configuration of the desired form.

Still another object is to provide a machine of a semi-automatic type and one by which the method of forming metallic bodies may be performed rapidly and simply.

These and other objects will become evident in the course of the following description relating to one embodiment of the invention and when considered in view of the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 illustrates schematically in plan view the successive stages in the formation of a flange on the tubular body; the step (A) being the phase following the heating stage but just prior to the first action of turning the tubular wall by a conical breaking roll; step (B) being the initial breaking action to direct the tube wall mass into a flared formation; step (C) being the stage of complete tube wall flarin and turning; step (D) being the phase in which the turning roll means is moved away and a flat face finishing roll moved into operative position; and step (E) being the final phase 0! press-forging the flared and curled tube mass into a flat faced flange projecting at right angles to the tube axis,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus herein preferred for carrying out the several steps of flanging or spin-forging a tubular body as shown schematically in Fig. 1, certain operating elements of the apparatus being omitted in this view,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal elevation partly in section of the apparatus illustrating further features thereof,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional elevational detail of the tube receiving spindle and rotating head of the tube forming apparatus,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective detail of the tube clamping and rotating chuck adapted to be secured to the right-hand end portion of the spindle means of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is also an enlarged perspective detail of the preferred tube centering or tube locating means normally positioned at the left-hand end of the spindle as seen in Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is an end elevated view, partly in section, of the tube forming means and supporting carriage as seen along line 1-1 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged and partly broken and exploded perspective view of the forming mm and carriage as viewed opposite to that in Fig. '7, and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view of the heating means and tube supporting rolls with special attention directed to the means for-timing the movement thereof in the tube heating and tube forming cycle of operations.

In the drawings and particularly Fig. 1 there is illustrated in progressive stage of flange formation a tubular body II which may be selected from a group of metals and alloys found desirable or suitable for the purpose in view. According to the preferred method of treating tubular bodies, the tube section II (Fig. LA) is centered and clamped in a rotating type chuck l I with a suitable length of stock projecting from the face of the chuck to present just sufllcient material for forming, the remainder of the tube being retained in and behind the spindle ready for subsequent operations as will appear hereinafter. The portion of the tubular body II to be formed is first heated until the desired plastic condition is reached, which for 4130 steel is about 1400 degrees F. or a light cherry red. The temperature to be attained for suflicierit plasticity will of course vary with change of the material being formed. A uniform heat is reached by. rotating the tube and chuck and at the proper time the heating means is removed and a backing or supporting roll means I! is brought into position adjacent and tangent to the tube circle but rearwardly of the tube end as shown. This,

supporting roll i2 is freely rotatably mounted on an adjustable carriage II with its axis of rotation normal to that of the tube. Immediately following the positioning of the roll II a conically shaped breaking roll I4 is moved axially into the tube where it assumes a position with its conic face parallel to and in rolling contact with the inside surface of the tube wall at a point which is opposite the point of contact of the supporting roll I! with the tube exterior. This spaced relationship of rolls l2 and I will vary with changes in the tube wall thickness and therefore, the conical roll i4 is carried in an adjustable mounting means it. Roll ll is pressed into the tube until the angularly related conical face contacts the inner peripheral margin of the tube and causes the tube wall to break or expand outwardly, as indicated at I in Fig. 1.3, into a flared formation. The tube rotation will cause this flared formation to assume uniform proportions over the tube circumference.

While the tube mouth is being radially expanded or flared by continual inward movement of the conical roll H, a turning roll I1 is brought up by the same means utilized for advancing the conical roll and contact between the tube flare i8 and the curved face ll of the turning roll is established. The roll I1 is freely rotatable on an axis normal to the tube axis and is also in aposition closely adJacent the roll ll along a tangency line corresponding to a projection of the contacting tangency line between the cone roll and tube. The action of this turning roll i1 is clearly indicated in Fig. 1.13 where it picks up the tube flare II and continues or accelerates the radial expansion, and in Fig. 1.1!! where it acts to crowd the tube flared portion I back on itself in a sharply curled formation until the flare approaches the backing roll I2. Further increase in the diameter of the flare Ii is prevented by the positioning of a flange controlling, blade type roll ll with its axis of free rotation normal to that of the roll l2 and substantially parallel with the axis of the tubular body II. The blade roll I! is arranged to overlap the roll I! an amount sufllcient to prevent the tube flare from extending beyond the width of the roll I! and to act as the means for controlling and restricting the width of the flange formation.

The final stages of the method involve the substitution for the turning roll ll of a flat flnishing roll 20. This is accomplished (Fig. 1.0) by retracting the rolls I4 and I1 and indexing the flat roll 20 into its operative position and the turning roll I! out of position. The roll changing and indexing means is shown generally at H and is actuated manually in this arrangement to swing the roll I! downwardly and to the rear where it becomes inoperative and to swing the roll 2| downwardly and forwardly where it occupies the position formerly assumed by roll l'l. When this change has been effected, the roll organization is again fed into the flange ll (Fig; LE) and the final flange forming phase performed. In this latter phase the flat roll 2| presses or forces the reversely turned flare ll against the back roll I! flattening it out and at the same time forcing the metal to flow outwardly against the control blade roll II and inwardly against the conical roll 14 thereby resuiting in squared-up outer and inner flange margins. At the same time the tube wall thick ness is maintained by the relationship of rolls if and I4 so that there occurs no reduction in thickness of material at any zone of the tubular wall. The flange thickness is determined by the extent of inward travel of the flat roll 2. and by the metal flow in a radial direction permitted by the control roll I.

One form and arrangement of apparatus by which the presently preferred method may be carried out is disclosed in the several remaining views of the drawings and for a general understanding thereof reference will be had to Figs. 2 and 3. The apparatus comprises a base member 23 in the form of a rigid I beam with the web portion 24 horizontally positioned and supported through the flanges 25 and 2| together with bolstermembers 21 positioned at the upper end of the legs 28, the latter being suitably braced and strengthened by members I! and II. The table-like web 2| supports near the left end a rotary spindle organization 3 I, which is comprised of a central structure 32, partly enclosed by a cover 38, and at the forward and rear ends respectively a chuck member I l and a work centering mechanism II. A portion of the sheet metal cover 3! for the structure 32 has been broken away to reveal the spindle driving pulley 10 which is connected through a plurality of V-belts I! to the drive pulley ll of a hydraulic speed control unit 3! which, in turn, receives its power from a gear connected electric motor ll. The latter hydraulic unit and motor is carried on a base plate ll pivotally mounted on a shaft 42 at one side (Fig. 2) and resiliently supported by a rm I! and spring 44 at the front side. A plurality oi floor legs 45 and associated brace struts 45 support the shaft 42 as shown.

The details of the spindle organization (Fig. 4) include a cast base structure 32 in which supporting and axial thrust bearings 50 are carried for the rotary hollow or tubular spindle The external face of the spindle 5| is formed to provide circumferentially machined surfaces for the inner races of the bearings 5|] and also for the keyed securement of the V-belt pulley 36 intermediate the length of the spindle and between the upstanding portions of the structure 32. An

adapter flange member 52 welded or otherwise secured to the right hand end portion of the spindle 5| acts as an abutment for the adjacent thrust bearing 50 and also as the means for locating the spindle in operative position. A retainer ring element 53 is threaded on the spindle at the left ha:.d portion thereof and through the interposition of a spacer ring or collar 54 serves to confine the assembly from axial displacement. The pulley 36 located on the spindle 5| is enclosed by the sheet metal cover 33 attached directly to the structure 32 and confined between flanges 55. As indicated (Fig. 3) the spindle housing structure 32 is bolted as at 56 directly on the table 24 between the front and rear side flanges of the principal supporting structure 23.

The chuck type tube clamp and rotating memher I l, suitably bolted as at 60 to the adapter flange 52 carried by the spindle 5%, is shown in Fig. 5 as comprising a base member 6| having a central aperture 62 of substantially the same diameter as the internal diameter of the spindle. The face 63 of this member 6E carries a first set of pivot-forming blocks 64 for the pivotal support of an alignment plate 65 and a second set of similar blocks 66 for pivotally' mounting a second alignment plate 67, the two plates cooperating when in closed position to bring the tubular work piece into a vertically centered position (as viewed in the drawing) with respect to the axis of rotation of the chuck. The centering plate '61 is shown in its full open position while the plate 65 is shown fully closed. Each of these plates is provic :d with a semi-circular recess 68 of a size slightly larger than the outside diameter of the tubular body to be held in the chuck. Obviously a change in tube diameter will make it necessary to replace these centering plates with an appropriate set having recesses 68 suiliciently larger or smaller to receive the tubular body. In addition to these centering plates 65 and 61 the chuck face 63 carries a yoke member which is made up of side elements ll secured at their upper ends to a cross block 12, and at their lower ends on pivot forming pins 13, the latter being integral with a yoke supporting slide block 14. The yoke may be pivoted outwardly and down as viewed in the drawing, but in its operative position is arranged to lie between and in a plane behind the pivoted centering plates 65 and 61 as indicated. The slide block support 14 is secured to the chuck through a pair of gibs or dovetail guides which receive therebetween a matching dove-tail projection (not shown) formed on the rearward face of the slide so that it may be adiustably positioned in a radial direction across the chuck face and within the limits defined by a slotted recess 16. A pin (not shown) carried in the rear face of the slide block dove-tail piece projects into the slot I5 where it acts to limit the radial travel of this member.

The tube clamping or securing means comprises a pair of gripping blocks I1 and 18 slidably positioned between the yoke side pieces 1|. The

block 11 is secured to the yoke supporting block 14 and consequently may be positionally adjusted therewith. The cooperating block 18 is secured to a crosshead membe- 19, which. in turn, is slldablyattached to the chuck face by the provision of gib blocks which receive a dove-tail projection (not shown) integrally formed on the rear i'ace of the crosshead I8. In this manner the crosshead I9 and gripping block 18 may be adjustably positioned independently of the yoke means in a radial direction toward or away from the associated grip block 11 and yoke support 14. Itwill be noted that each of the gripping blocks is formed with a semi-circular recess 8|, which, when the blocks are placed in adjacency, provides a circular aperture of a size sufficient to engage the tubular body and hold the same in position. For changes in the dimensions of the body to be held thereby, the gripping blocks 11 and 18 are arranged to be removable so that a similar set of blocks, each having a suitably enlarged or smaller recess 8 i, may be substituted.

- A clamping screw element 82 threaded through the yoke head block 12 presses against the upper end surface of the crosshead 19 thereby forcing the gripping block 18 into contact with the tubular body positioned in the recess 8|. At the same time, the reaction of screw element 82 on the upper block '19 is transmitted through the yoke 10 to the lower block 14 causing a concurrent upward movement thereof to bring each of the gripping blocks into engagement with the tubular body intended to be held within the recess 8|.

In securing a body or tubular work piece, such as tube Ill in Fig. l, in the chuck the centering plates 65 and 61 are pivoted to the open position, that is the position assumed by the plate 61 in the drawing, and screw 82 is backed off sufliciently to permit separation of the jaws I1 and 18. The body is then passed through the bore of spindle 5i and projects into and through law recesses 8| the desired amount. Thereafter jaws I1 and 18 are brought into gripping contact with the body by turning upthe clamp screw 82 in yoke cross-head 12 and centerin plates 65 and 61 are pivoted into closed position to center the body in a vertical position. At the time jaws H and 18 are moved into the body a locking piece or finger 83 on block 19 is positioned in adjacent notches 84 and 85 of the respective plates 65 and 51 thereby securing the centering plate means against unintended opening during the rotation of the chuck ll. 7

In Fig. 6 there is illustrated the details of a body locating and centralizing device 35 which is mounted at the rear end of the tubular spindle II in an adapter ring 86 (Fig. 4) secured to the spindle by one or more set screws 81. The device 35 comprises a base plate 88 preferably secured to the adapter ring 88 by means of three dowel pins 89 (only one being shown in Fig. 6) which are slidably mounted in apertures 90 in the adapter for axial adjustments of the member 35. As shown in dotted outline in Figure 6, the single dowel pin 89 has a reduced end portion which is inserted in an aperture in the plate and is so held 1' a nut threaded thereon as at 89a. Of. course the other dowels will be similarly secured to plate 88. A set screw 9| locks the dowel pin 89 in either one of two positions as defined by the set screw receiving recesses indicated (dotted outline) in the dowel pin shank. A secbe made to move into or out of the area deflned by the body receiving apertures l4 and il in the base plate 88 and adjustable plate '2 respectively. Each finger element 92 is positioned between the plates 88 and 92 and is also pivoted about a stud bolt 98, the latter being anchored in base plate It, and further being provided with an enlarged shouldered portion (not shown) intermediate its ends for the purpose of establishing a predetermined fixed spacing between the plates 8| and 82. It should be noted that the securing nuts, as at 89a, for the dowel pins 89, only one of which has been shown, are located in the space between the plates 88 and 92. The rotatably adjustableplate 92 is provided with circumferentially directed arcuate slots 91 to receive the bolts N and to permit a limited amount of angular shifting of plate 92 with respect to the base plate N. A suitable nut 98 is threaded on the outer end of each bolt 96 and serves to secure the several parts from unintended displacement when tightened up. The means provided for rotating each finger element 83 and thus for adjusting the centering device to accommodate various tube sizes consists of a pin element 09 carried at the inner end of the finger and adapted to move in a pin guide slot I" having a spiral trend as indicated. Depending upon the direction of rotation of the plate 52 it is possible to move the rear end of each finger element 93 so that the fingers may be spread out to lie flush with the inner circumference of the plate aperture-or, as shown, moved inwardly to a partially inwardly extended position. In order that plate 92 may be held against rotation as a consequence of the off-center force developed on plate 92 when nuts 98 are being drawn up or loosened there is provided a series of plate holding means (three being indicated) consisting of nut elements Ill welded to the face of plate 92 which may be engaged by a wrench or other tool for balancing the off-center force on the plate during the time a second tool is used to turn nuts 98. With the nuts 98 loosened, plate 82 may be rotated relative to plate 88 by hand.

The means and agencies utilized in performing the body shaping operations shown in great detail in Figs. '7 and 8 and in somewhat lesser particularity in Figs. 2 and 3 comprise a base plate I02 pivotally mounted on a back shaft I" through spaced arms I04 and further supported and held against unintended displacement by a toothed rack element I" engaged with a second toothed rack element I" fixed to the main table surface 24 (Fig. 3). Back shaft I" is supported in a plurality of suitable brackets I" attached to the rear flange 25 of the table. The base plate I02 provides a slide way for a reciprocatory carriage I08 in which a pair of gibs I" secured in the margins of the slide way receive a dove-tail piece Hi, the latter being fixed on the bottom surface of the carriage I" (Figs. '1 and 8). The carriage I" is reciprocated in its slide way on base I02 by means of a piston rod III associated with a cylinder H2 (Figs. 2 and 3) which is secured to the table surface by means of a bracket structure II2a as shown. The rod III is releasably connected with the carriage IN by means of a slotted block member Ill secured at the rear marginal portion of the carriage and engaging with a mating grooved cylindrical element II 4 on piston rod III. A further presently.

The carriage I" mounts at the forward and back zone thereof the set of forming rolls I1 and respectively utilized in turning and flnishing the tubular body flange formation. These rolls are freely rotatably mounted on an indexing head block 2I, the latter being pivoted on an axially adjustable shaft III, in turn, supported in a split type bearing block III secured to the carriage III in any suitable manner. The indexing head block 2| is provided with a handle II! and a detent (not shown) which is adapted to engage in one of two roll positioning recesses (not shown) provided in the shaft III. A lever member III pivoted on handle III operates the detent in a well known manner when the lever is moved toward handle III. Also mounted on the carriage Ill substantially in front of the position of the rolls is a secondary carriage II! slidably secured by means of a dove-tail projection I" between a pair of gib elements III in turn secured to the primary carriage I". The means for moving the carriage III in the slide way afforded by gibs I2I is indicated at I22 and comprises a block fixed to carriage Ill and threadedly receiving a screw shaft which is rotatably secured to the carriage III in a well known manner. The upper face of secondary carriage I I! provides a mounting surface, deflned by integral but spaced flanges I23 for guiding a block member I24 therebetween and in a direction normal to the travel of the secondary carriage. Block I24 is positionally adjusted toward or away from the rolls I1 and 2| by a block and threaded element I25 which is similar to the means I22 associated with the secondary carriage. In addition to the adjusting means I", block I24 is provided with slotted apertures I20 for the reception of clamping bolts or the like I21 (Fig. 2), which bolts engage the secondary carriage II! in threaded apertures I28 (Fig. 8). The adjustability of carriage III and block I24 is required so that the conical roll member l4 mounted in a skewed axis aperture I2! in block I24 by means of a shaft Ill integral with the roll I4 may be positioned internally of the tubular body to be formed as conditions of operation demand. The shaft III is freely rotatable in aperture I29 but is retained from axial displacement by a suitable set screw or other retaining means (not shown) inserted in aperture Ill and engaging an annular groove I22 in shaft III.

The rolls I1, 20, and I4 cooperate in the manner before described in detail in connection with Figs. LA to l,E. The adjustability of each of these rolls is obviously necessary so that flanging operations may be performed on a number of different size tubular bodies, one such tubular body being indicated at I0 in Fig. 7 with a flange formed thereon at II. Thus the relative position of the forming rolls and body may be clearly observed and understood.

In addition to the above noted roll elements there is provided a backing or supporting roll member l2 freely rotatably mounted on an ad- Justable member I3 which is carried on a swinging arm I22, the latter arm pivoting about the back shaft I03 in the manner indicated in Figs. '7 and 9. The means for adjusting the position of roll I2 is indicated at I34 while .an hydraulic unit I15 pivotally supported on depending bracket I" has its operating rod I" connected to a bellcrank or arm I20 integral with swinging arm I.

means The member I3 also carries a freely rotatable flange controlling blade-type roll I5, which roll maintains a fixed position relative to backing roll I2 for any given flange formation desired to be spun-forged from the tubular body I (Fig. 9). In the illustrated embodiment the blade-type roll I is mounted so that when in operative position it bears a. fixed spaced relation to the tube axis, because in this embodiment it Is not deemed necessary to move it outwardly or inwardly of the tube axis to vary the flange depth and flow of material in the peripheral zone of the flange, but obviously the roll may be adjustably mounted on its support if desired.

One of the preparatory steps to the formabion of a body flange is the reduction of the body to a plastic state and in the present instance is achieved by means of an open flame heating organization shown in Figs. 3 and 9. The heating means comprises a plurality of torch heads I35 each carried on a bracket member I40 at the outer end of a beam element I, the beams being pivotally mounted in a bracket I42 on spindle frame 32. A beam counterweight I43 facilitates the raising and lowering of the heating torches which are movable in unison due to the beam tie bar I44. The heating means is adapted to work in conjunction with the swinging arm I33 (Fig. 9) so that when the heating torches (dotted outline) are positioned to heat the body I0 the arm I33 and associated rolls move out of the way (dotted outline) and conversely when the body is sufficiently plastic the heating means can be removed quickly to the full line position and rolls I2 and I5 positioned for the forming operations. To accomplish this timing of the heating means and roll supporting arm there is provided an operating rod I45 having a swivel connection I45 with bracket member I41 on beam elements I and a pivotal connection with an extension of the pivot pin utilized to connect crank arm I38 with piston rod I31 (see Figs. 2 and 9).

The hydraulic units II2 for the carriage organization I02 and I35 for the swinging arm I33 and heating torch organization are supplied with fluid from a central control station I50 which, in turn, receives pressure fluid through conduit I5I from a pump I52 driven by a belt connected motor I53. The fluid is returned to the suction side of this pump by way of conduit I54. The fluid conduit system from the control station is incompletely shown so as not unduly to confuse the drawings, but it should be noted that any suitable fluid conduit system may be utilized. From the central control I50 (Fig. 2) a pair of dual supply and return conduits I55 and I55 conduct pressure fluid and exhaust fluid respectively to the appropriate and corresponding inlet and exhaust connections similarly indicated at the opposite end connections at the cylinder I I2. Similarly conduits I51 and I 58 lead from valve unit I50 to their opposite end connections shown at the cylinder I35 (Fig. 9) for supplying and returning exhaust fluid for that actuator means. A valve control lever I55 is provided for a double acting valve disposed in fluid lines I55 and I55, and likewise a second lever I50 operates a double acting valve associated with fluid lines I51 and I58.

The operation of the above described apparatus is as follows: The hydraulic unit H2 is initially positioned to hold the carriage I08 and associated parts in a retracted position, viz. in a position to the right as viewed from Fig. 3. This will enable the machine operator to pivot the carriage base plate I02 upwardly and back about its back shaft I03 upon release of a clamping type hold down element I ll located at the front of the base plate. This pivoting movement of the base plate is facilitated by the addition of a pair of counter-' weights I52 mounted at the rear of the arms I04. It is necessary to retract carriage I08 so that the piston rod III will be clear of the base member I02 and also to allow the members H3 and H4 free separating movement when breaking the operating connection 'therebetween.

With the above mechanism and parts pivoted to an out of the way position, the next operation is to feed the tubular body through the centering device 35, spindle 5| and chuck II by means of in a concentric relation with the hollow spindle 5|. The spindle and tube may then be rotated by energizing the motor 40 and the desired speed of revolution adjusted by the hydraulic speed controller 35. At this time the member I02 is returned to operative position and connection between elements [13 and H4 reestablished. The

heating means I35 are positioned in adJacence to the spinning body I0 by proper manipulation of valve lever I50 which controls hydraulic actuator I35 and heating takes place until the proper temperature for the required degree of plasticity is obtained in the mass of the body subject to the forming operations. Upon attainment of the proper heat, actuator unit I35 is energized through control valve I50 to move the backing roll I2 into operative position (full line in Fig. 9) while withdrawing the heating heads I35. Thereafter valve I55 is manipulated to advance the carriage I08 axially toward the heated tubular body by application 'of pressure fluid to cylinder inlet connection I55. At the time of first feeding the rolls into the tube end the turning roll I! occupies the advanced position of roll 20 as shown in Fig. 8. The tube is accordingly spun into a flared and curled formation by the co-action of conic roll I4. and turning roll I1 in the manner described before. Upon completion of this step, cylinder unit I I2 is operated reversely to retract the carriage unit I08 sufllciently to enable the manual change of position of rolls I1 and 20 through the indexing head means 2I whereby roll 20 is the more advanced. Again the carriage organization is advanced toward the partially formed tubular body and a completed flange is press-forged by the co-action of the conic roll I4 and flat or forge finishing roll 20, these being arrested by flange controlling blade type-roll I5 and backing roll I2.

After the flange is completely formed on the tubular body I0, by the combined spinning and press-forging operations now described, the carriage supporting base I02 is pivoted out of the way as previously noted and an adjustable stop means I5! is moved along the front flange 25 of the supporting table 23 and secured at the proper point thereon so that the required length of tube may be measured off prior to advancing a standard type of lathe cut-ofl tool I58 into the side of the tube. The cut-oil step is effected while the tube is rotated by the chuck H as is well understood.

The method above described together with apparatus for the practice thereof has been directed to' a speclflc application for the production of flanged bushings or other parts from tubular stock. It should be recognized that there are other forms and shapes which may be made by applying the same principles to apparatus of modifled form coming within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for flanging a tubular body including a frame having means thereon for supporting said body for rotation, motor means on said frame for rotating said body supporting means, carriage means operatively disposed on said frame for movement toward or away from said body, power means on said frame for moving said carriage, a first set of flange forming rolls operatively'mounted on said carriage in position to contact said body and radially expand the same for forming a flange thereon by movement axially into the body upon movement of said carriage toward said body, a second set of flange forming limit rolls, a support for said latter rolls carried on said frame for pivotal movement into and out of a position in which they are disposed in fixed relation with respect to said body and said first set of rolls, heating means pivotally mounted on said frame for movement into and out of a position adjacent the body to heat the latter, means operatively interconnecting said pivotal support and said heating means for timing the pivoting movement thereof such that as said heating means pivots into or out of its said position, said pivotal support will pivot respectively out of or into its said position, and means on said frame connected to said pivotal support for moving the ,1

same.

2. Tube flang'ing apparatus comprising means for supporting and rotating a tube, a carriage movable axially of the tube, a flaring roll mounted on the carriage with its axis inclined to the tube axis, said flaring roll having a substantially conical face which on one side thereof is engageable tangentially along the inner surface of the tube for supporting the latter against inward deformation and on the opposite side thereof is inclined relative to the inner surface of the tube for flaring the end of the tube upon axial movement of the carriage, a pair of flange forming rolls mounted on the carriage in a manner to be brought alternately into engagement with the flared portion of the tube, each of said flange forming rolls when in the tube engagin position thereof having its axis of rotation substantially normal to the tube axis, one of the flange forming rolls being so shaped in profile as to curl the flared portion of the tube upon axial movement of the carriage, a backing roll rotatable on an axis substantially normal to the tube axis forcooperating with the other of the flange forming rolls to roll the curled portion of the tube therebetween, and a limit roll rotatable on an axis substantially parallel to the tube axis for engaging and limit- .ed on the carriage with its axis inclined to the tube axis, said flaring roll having a substantially conical face which on one side thereof is engageable with the tube tangentially along the inner surface thereof for supporting the latter against inward deformation and on the opposite side thereof is inclined relative to the inner surface of the tube for flaring the end of the tube upon axial movement of the carriage, a pair of flange forming rolls mounted on the carriage in a manner to-be brought alternately into engagement with the flared portion of the tube, each of said flange forming rolls when in the tube engaging position thereof having its axis of rotation substantially normal to the tube axis, one of said flange forming rolls being so shaped in proflle as to curl the flared portion of the tube upon axial movement of the carriage, and a backing roll rotatable on an axis substantially normal to the tube axis for cooperating with the other of said flange forming rolls to roll the flared portion of the tube therebetween.

4. Tube flanging apparatus comprising means for supporting and rotating a tube, a carriage movable axially of the tube, a flaring roll mounted on the carriage with its axis inclined to the tube axis, said flaring roll having a substantially conical face which on one side thereof is engageable tangentially along the inner surface of the tube and on the opposite side thereof is inclined relative to the inner surface of the tube for flaring the latter upon axial movement of the carriage, a flange forming roll mounted on the carriage for rotation upon an axis substantially normal to the tube axis, and a backing roll rotatable on an axis substantially normal to the tube axis for c0- operating with said flange forming roll to roll the flared portion of the tube therebetween.

EARLE F. LOHMANN.

REFERENCES crran The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 758,145 Nordenskiold Apr. 26, 1904 1,076,592 Manning Oct. 21, 1913 1,304,938 Brinkman May 27, 1919 1,399,383 Heck Dec. 6, 1921 1,421,507 Lindberg July 4, 1922 1,472,047 Carlson Oct. 30, 1923 1,696,229 Fantz Dec. 25, 1928 1,807,531 Hopkins May 26, 1931 1,983,407 Scholtes Dec. 4, 1934 2,313,474 Hill Mar. 9, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 7,050 France Feb. 24, 1904 

